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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the accepted background level of dioxins in the environment is; what the deemed safe level is; what levels the Environment Agency has found at the Cleanaway site in South Ockendon; and if she will make a statement. [4852] Mr. Meacher: The levels of dioxins in the urban environment are, roughly: Air: 100 femtograms per cubic metre Soil: 30 nanograms per kilogram Water: dioxins do not dissolve well in water so very low River sediments: 20 nanograms per kilogram. Most human exposure to dioxins is through food and currently average adult dietary intake is estimated to be 0.9 picograms per kilogram of body weight per day. This is within the WHO-recommended tolerable daily intake range (of 1 to 4 picograms per kilogram of body weight) and below the EC Scientific Committee on Food recommended tolerable weekly intake level (14 picograms per kilogram of body weight). The Environment Agency has not carried out any analysis of dioxins at the Cleanaway site in South Ockendon. Notes: Nanogram--one thousand millionth of a gram (1 x 10{-9}g) Picogram--one million millionth of a gram (1 x 10{-12}g) Femtogram--one thousand million millionth of a gram (1 x 10{-15}g)

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

4852; 372 c1074W;372 c1075W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Air pollution Health hazards Hazardous substances Waste disposal Dioxins Cleanaway

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk